History Through Headlines: The Election Of 1968, Birch Bayh & The Electoral College

Summary

The 1968 election between Richard Nixon, Hubert Humphrey, and George Wallace highlighted the flaws in the U.S. electoral system, prompting Indiana Senator Birch Bayh to push for a constitutional amendment that would eliminate the Electoral College in favor of direct presidential elections. Bayh's proposal, backed by 80% of Americans, passed the House but was blocked by a Southern filibuster. While interest in reform waned after Wallace’s campaign faltered, Bayh continued to advocate for change, making the 1969 effort the closest attempt to abolish the Electoral College until the contentious 2000 election brought the issue back into focus.

Takeaways

• 😀 The inauguration of President Joe Biden officially marked the end of the 2020 election saga.
• 😀 Former President Donald Trump's wave of lawsuits over election results brought renewed focus to the Electoral College.
• 😀 Indiana Senator Birch Bayh proposed an amendment in 1968 to eliminate the Electoral College and institute direct presidential elections.
• 😀 Bayh's proposal gained significant support, with a 1968 Gallup poll showing 80% of Americans in favor of eliminating the Electoral College.
• 😀 Bayh's amendment passed the House in 1969 but was blocked by a filibuster from Southern Democrats.
• 😀 In the 1968 election, Richard Nixon won a closely contested race, which included George Wallace, a segregationist, and Hubert Humphrey.
• 😀 Concerns over the potential for an election outcome decided by the House of Representatives spurred Bayh's push for Electoral College reform.
• 😀 After the 1968 election, the reform movement lost momentum, especially after Wallace's inability to run again.
• 😀 The issue of Electoral College reform resurfaced during the 2000 election controversy, rekindling interest in the issue.
• 😀 Birch Bayh continued advocating for the elimination of the Electoral College throughout his Senate career, but his 1969 amendment was the closest he came to success.

Q & A

What event marked the official end of the 2020 election saga?

The inauguration of President Joe Biden officially marked the end of the 2020 election saga.

What issue brought the electoral college back into the spotlight during the 2020 election?

Former President Donald Trump's wave of lawsuits over election results brought the electoral college back into the spotlight.

What was Indiana Senator Birch Bayh's stance on the electoral college?

Senator Birch Bayh proposed an amendment to eliminate the electoral college and call for the direct election of the president.

Why did Birch Bayh want to eliminate the electoral college?

Bayh argued that the electoral college made it difficult for people in non-swing states to feel their votes mattered, which he considered detrimental to democracy.

What significant event in the 1968 election led Birch Bayh to push for electoral college reform?

The 1968 election, where segregationist George Wallace performed well enough to potentially throw the election into the House of Representatives, prompted Birch Bayh to push for electoral college reform.

How did George Wallace's 1968 third-party campaign influence the call for electoral college reform?

Wallace's campaign, which resulted in him winning five states in the deep South, created concern that if the election were thrown into the House of Representatives, Wallace could extract political concessions.

What was the outcome of Birch Bayh's 1969 amendment proposal to eliminate the electoral college?

Bayh's amendment proposal passed the House in 1969 but was filibustered by southern Democrats, preventing its passage.

What did a 1968 Gallup poll reveal about public opinion on Bayh's electoral college reform proposal?

A 1968 Gallup poll showed that 80 percent of Americans supported Birch Bayh's proposal to eliminate the electoral college.

What happened to the momentum for electoral college reform after the 1969 attempt?

After the 1969 attempt, momentum for electoral college reform waned, especially after George Wallace was unable to run again and people lost interest in the issue.

How long did Birch Bayh continue to push for the elimination of the electoral college?

Birch Bayh continued to advocate for the elimination of the electoral college for the rest of his time in the Senate and beyond, but 1969 remained the closest he came to achieving this goal.